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NYS Council of School

Superintendents

Advocacy … the act or process of supporting a

cause or proposal

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A Call to ActionPart 1: Overview of the Legislative Process

Part 2: Discussion of NYS Budget and issues

Part 3: How to Advocate

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Part 1: The Legislative Process:• WHERE do I advocate and • WHO should I speak with?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-eYBZFEzf8

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The Senate and AssemblyYour representatives

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Senate – 63 members• Majority: “Bipartisan Coalition” –

(29 Republicans, 5 “Independent Democrats,” 1 Democrat)

• Minority: 28 Democrats

Assembly – 150 members• Majority: 106 Democrats, 1 Independent• Minority: 43 Republicans

Neil Breslin (D) Didi Barrett (D)Hugh Farley (R) Patricia Fahy (D)Elizabeth (Betty) Little (R) Peter Lopez (R)Kathleen Marchione (R) John McDonald (D)James Seward (R) Steven McLaughlin (R)Cecilia Tkaczyk (D) Angelo Santabarbara (D)

Phil Steck (D)James Tedisco (R)

Find your Legislators:http://www.nysenate.gov/ http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

When Do I Speak Up? What Do I say?

“How did it get so late so soon?”

~ Dr. Seuss7

Gap Elimination Adjustment and Restorations

Adequate Funding

Mandate Relief

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Part 2: State Budget Issues & tools you can use

The Budget process• Governor proposes a budget

(usually mid-January)

• Final budget is approved through negotiations between the Governor, Senate and Assembly

• State fiscal year starts April 1

• Due to timing of religious holidays this year, the Legislature is aiming to finish the budget by March 21

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Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget for education

• $611 million (3.0%) increase in School Aid:– $550 million (2.77%) through formulas appearing on School Aid runs– $60 million to competitive grants and other programs– Total reflects state cap on School Aid growth tied to change in statewide personal income

• $75 million for Education Reform Commission initiatives – Full-day prekindergarten, Community Schools, extended learning time, rewarding high

performing teachers, Early College High Schools – not allocated to districts yet.

• $203 million for a Financial Stabilization Fund– to be allocated through negotiations with the Legislature

• Mandate Relief: – Optional Stable Pension Rate – Special Education Waivers– Paperwork Reduction 10

School Aid – 3 “moving pieces” $550 million (2.77%) through formulas appearing on School Aid runs:

1. Gap Elimination Adjustment Restoration: $322 million increase in general purpose aid .

2. High Tax Aid: $50 million net reduction (some districts would gain from proposal).

3. Everything Else: $289 million net increases to all other aids, funded under current law. • Increases/decreases occur due to changes in the data that is plugged into formulas.

The Governor has not proposed changing these formulas.

and…$203 million “Financial Stabilization Fund” – not allocated on runs

The Governor has provided Legislators a way to increase School Aid for their local districts, without increasing the size of the state budget beyond what he proposed.

See a post on our blog (blog.nyscoss.org for more explanation: http://blog.nyscoss.org/index.php/the-governors-school-aid-proposal-understanding-the-moving-parts/ 11

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Enter 6-digit "BEDS" Code here 010100

Distr ict: ALBANY CITY SD

County: Albany

Aid Category 2012-13 2013-14 Change % ChangeGeneral Purpose Aids $61,541,718 $59,605,411 ($1,936,307) -3.1%

Foundation Aid 57,258,202 57,258,202 - 0.0%Charter School Transition Aid 4,283,516 2,347,209 (1,936,307) -45.2%High Tax Aid - - - NAReorganization Incentive Operating Aid - - - NAAcademic Enhancement Aid - - - NA

Expense-Based Aids $22,631,205 $23,011,232 $380,027 1.7%Building Aid 9,363,794 8,882,862 (480,932) -5.1%Reorganization Incentive Building Aid - - - NATransportation Aid (including summer) 4,816,919 5,107,552 290,633 6.0%BOCES Aid - - - NANon-BOCES Special Services Aid 3,932,110 3,865,346 (66,764) -1.7%Private Excess Cost Aid 3,489,702 3,458,416 (31,286) -0.9%Public Excess Cost High Cost Aid 1,028,680 1,697,056 668,376 65.0%Supplemental Public Excess Cost Aid - - - NA

Other Aids $3,435,037 $3,441,907 $6,870 0.2%Computer Software Aid 192,553 197,750 5,197 2.7%Library Material Aid 80,337 82,506 2,169 2.7%Textbook Aid 699,874 692,302 (7,572) -1.1%Hardware and Technology Aid 198,150 203,499 5,349 2.7%Full Day-Kindergarten Conversion Aid - - - NAUniversal Prekindergarten Aid 2,264,123 2,265,850 1,727 0.1%

Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) ($10,777,551) ($9,042,493) $1,735,058 ---

TOTAL AID $76,830,409 $77,016,057 $185,648 0.2%Total Aid without Building Aids $67,466,615 $68,133,195 $666,580 1.0%

For a list of codes, use mouse to click on "CODE LIST" at bottom of screen

To view complete report, scroll down To print report, hit "Ctrl P"

2013-14 Governor 's School Aid Proposal

NOTE: The Governor's budget would amend formulas only for the Gap Elimination Adjustment and High Tax Aid; all other aids would be funded according to formulas in current law.

A tool you can use – from the Council’s website –

www.nyscoss.org

Look for “The Governor’s School Aid proposal & your district” under COUNCIL NEWS

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Full Day-Kindergarten Conversion Aid - - - NAUniversal Prekindergarten Aid 2,264,123 2,265,850 1,727 0.1%

Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) ($10,777,551) ($9,042,493) $1,735,058 ---

TOTAL AID $76,830,409 $77,016,057 $185,648 0.2%Total Aid without Building Aids $67,466,615 $68,133,195 $666,580 1.0%

2010-11: ($6,355,178)

2011-12: ($12,493,136)2012-13: ($10,777,551)

Total To date: ($29,625,865)2013-14

(Proposed): ($9,042,493)

Change in Total Aid, 2008-09 to 2012-13 (excluding Building Aids):

($11,369,195) -14.4%

SOURCE: Compiled by the Council from NYS Education Department School Aid data; data for years prior to 2012-13 are as estimated at time state budget was enacted.

History of aid lost to Gap Elimination Adjustments

NOTE: The Governor's budget would amend formulas only for the Gap Elimination Adjustment and High Tax Aid; all other aids would be funded according to formulas in current law.

$78,835,810

$67,466,615 $68,133,195

$55,000,000

$60,000,000

$65,000,000

$70,000,000

$75,000,000

$80,000,000

2008-09 2012-13 2013-14 (Proposed)

Change in Total Aid since 2008-09(excluding Building Aids)

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Distr ict: ALBANY CITY SD

County: Albany

Aid Category 2012-13 2013-14 Change % ChangeGeneral Purpose Aids $61,541,718 $59,605,411 ($1,936,307) -3.1%

Foundation Aid 57,258,202 57,258,202 - 0.0%Charter School Transition Aid 4,283,516 2,347,209 (1,936,307) -45.2%High Tax Aid - - - NAReorganization Incentive Operating Aid - - - NAAcademic Enhancement Aid - - - NA

Expense-Based Aids $22,631,205 $23,011,232 $380,027 1.7%Building Aid 9,363,794 8,882,862 (480,932) -5.1%Reorganization Incentive Building Aid - - - NATransportation Aid (including summer) 4,816,919 5,107,552 290,633 6.0%BOCES Aid - - - NANon-BOCES Special Services Aid 3,932,110 3,865,346 (66,764) -1.7%Private Excess Cost Aid 3,489,702 3,458,416 (31,286) -0.9%Public Excess Cost High Cost Aid 1,028,680 1,697,056 668,376 65.0%Supplemental Public Excess Cost Aid - - - NA

Other Aids $3,435,037 $3,441,907 $6,870 0.2%Computer Software Aid 192,553 197,750 5,197 2.7%Library Material Aid 80,337 82,506 2,169 2.7%Textbook Aid 699,874 692,302 (7,572) -1.1%Hardware and Technology Aid 198,150 203,499 5,349 2.7%Full Day-Kindergarten Conversion Aid - - - NAUniversal Prekindergarten Aid 2,264,123 2,265,850 1,727 0.1%

Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) ($10,777,551) ($9,042,493) $1,735,058 ---

TOTAL AID $76,830,409 $77,016,057 $185,648 0.2%Total Aid without Building Aids $67,466,615 $68,133,195 $666,580 1.0%

2010-11: ($6,355,178)

2011-12: ($12,493,136)2012-13: ($10,777,551)

Total To date: ($29,625,865)2013-14

(Proposed): ($9,042,493)

Change in Total Aid, 2008-09 to 2012-13 (excluding Building Aids):

($11,369,195) -14.4%

2013-14 Governor 's School Aid Proposal

SOURCE: Compiled by the Council from NYS Education Department School Aid data; data for years prior to 2012-13 are as estimated at time state budget was enacted.

History of aid lost to Gap Elimination Adjustments

NOTE: The Governor's budget would amend formulas only for the Gap Elimination Adjustment and High Tax Aid; all other aids would be funded according to formulas in current law.

$78,835,810

$67,466,615 $68,133,195

$55,000,000

$60,000,000

$65,000,000

$70,000,000

$75,000,000

$80,000,000

2008-09 2012-13 2013-14 (Proposed)

Change in Total Aid since 2008-09(excluding Building Aids)

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If you have only one wish, and you can wish for anything at all,

what should you wish for???

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Advocacy is not about salesmanship or crisis intervention, it’s about building relationships.

The only way to have a friend is to be one.~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

and…

When you really need a friend, its too late to make one.

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• Schools must balance what students need and what taxpayers can afford.

• Local leaders must translate statewide policies into sensible practices.

I am as powerful as you think I am.

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Communicate – Be Vocal

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

and…

Either you try to make a difference, or you make a difference by not trying. 19

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Allies

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Tell your story

$326$394

$705

-$50

$50

$150

$250

$350

$450

$550

$650

$750

Governor's proposed School Aid increase

2% tax levy increaseEstimated TRS cost increase

Estim

ated

chan

ge fr

om

2012

-13

to 2

013-

14(in

mill

ions

)

Estimated NYS Teachers Retirement System cost increases vs. revenue from School Aid and a 2% tax levy increase

(in millions ;New York City not included*)

* New York City has a separate Teachers Retirement SYstem

** Estimated by adjusting 2011-12 TRS obligations to reflect contribution rate increases from 11.11% for 2011-12 to 11.86% for 2012-13 and 16.25% for 2013-14. Actual costs would be affected by changes in payroll costs since 2011-12.

SOURCE: Council analysis of NYSED School Aid and Property Tax Report Card data.

**

-$798-$750

-$1,204-$1,117

-$1,224-$1,066

-$946-$661

-$929-$697

-$524-$382

$119$250

$208$179

$146$112

$78$129

$75$46

$21$6

-$1,500 -$1,000 -$500 $0 $500

Total State1 (Poorest 10%)

23456

NYC789

10 (Wealthiest 10%)

Governor's GEA Restoration is progressive, but still small in relation to past cuts

2012-13 GEA per pupil 2013-14 GEA Restoration per pupil

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Tell your story

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Telling your story…1. Be sure to share some good news about your school(s).

2. Tell about the impact of some of the tough budget decisions that have affected your school(s) in recent years.

3. If possible, explain some creative steps your district has taken to save money to spare students from worse actions.

4. Describe the tough choices your district is facing now and how state policies and proposed state policies are affecting those choices.

and…

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Telling your story…5. Ask the Legislator to support your agenda

Examples:

Eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment

Provide adequate state aid to education

Provide a meaningful measure of mandate relief

Move money from competitive grants to GEA reductions

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Ask…Conclude by asking:

What will you do to help us?

If they ask, “What do you want me to do?,” repeat your action agenda (#5 on last slide); and

Finally ask, “Will you ask your leadership to support what we need?”

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‘The fool tells me his reasons, the wise man persuades me with my own’

~ Aristotle

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Observeob·serve

/əbˈzərv/

Verb1. Notice or perceive

(something) and register it as being significant.

2. Watch (someone or something) carefully and attentively.

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Why?

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A Tale of Two Brothers

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More StoriesEducation Speaks: http://educationspeaks.org/advocacy/

Capital Region BOCES:https://www.capitalregionboces.org/News/2012-2013/NYSchoolsInPeril.cfm

Check out your district’s website too.

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http://animoto.com/play/mpsEPgwhbUQe5baOpZje1A

A Message ofNecessity

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Now its time to tell your story

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

~ Maya Angelou

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NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS

7 Elk Street, 3rd FloorAlbany, NY 12207

(518)449-1063

www.nyscoss.org

Check out our blog – blog.nyscoss.org Follow us on Twitter ~ Like us on Facebook